Black Artist Held First Exhibit in Birmingham in 1963

Corietta L. Mitchell became the first Black artist to exhibit work at the Birmingham Museum of Art in March 1963.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Fine Art

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single empty gallery frame on a museum wall, representing historical artistic milestones. — In March 1963, Corietta L. Mitchell became the first Black artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In March 1963, Corietta L. Mitchell made history as the first Black artist to host a solo exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The historic show took place during an era when the institution restricted Black visitors to only one day per week.

Why it matters

Highlighting this milestone during the museum's 75th anniversary serves as a retrospective on the institution's evolution. It marks a departure from historical segregation toward contemporary efforts to include underrepresented voices in its permanent collection.

Mitchell's 1963 solo exhibition featured seven oil paintings and five prints, drawing nearly 600 people to the event. The Birmingham Museum of Art currently maintains a permanent collection that includes works by 250 Black artists.

The players

Corietta L. Mitchell

She was a pioneering artist who became the first Black individual to hold a solo exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Birmingham Museum of Art

This institution is a major cultural center in Birmingham that is currently celebrating its 75th year of operation.

Wallace A. Rayfield

He was a noted architect who designed the A.M. Brown Memorial Community Center in 1908.

The details

Held on a Sunday evening, the exhibition represented a significant moment for the local arts community in Birmingham. While the museum has since integrated, it has never officially acquired any of Mitchell's work for its permanent holdings, a gap the institution now plans to address.

The A.M. Brown Center was built by Wallace A. Rayfield in 1908.
The Birmingham Museum of Art opened to the public in 1951.
Corietta L. Mitchell held her solo art exhibition in March 1963.
The museum celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2026.
The Roll Call exhibition opened on September 26, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The Birmingham Museum of Art opened the Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art exhibition to frame its anniversary within the context of American art history. This project demonstrates a wider shift in the museum sector toward documenting and rectifying historical gaps in permanent collections.

Visitors can now engage with the history of Black American art through the museum's ongoing exhibition projects. These initiatives provide greater access to pieces previously marginalized or omitted from the institution's permanent collection.

The takeaway

Recognizing the contributions of early pioneers like Mitchell provides necessary context for modern institutional goals. Understanding these historical barriers helps the public better appreciate current efforts to diversify and expand artistic collections.